Fourth of July Weekend

This past weekend we stayed with our sweet friends in Newport News, VA. Nathan & Mary have always been so hospitable to us and we are very grateful for the friendship that God has given to us. Friday evening a group of us went to the VA Beach boardwalk ~~ Paul Adams with Open Air Campaigners was also there for the weekend and was able to use the sketch board. It's amazing how quickly people start to gather around to watch Paul paint and listen to him present the gospel.

People from our group our scattered throughout the crowd ... prepared to start a one-to-one conversation with those around at the close of Paul's presentation. The guys also took turns open air preaching throughout the night.



Saturday afternoon, we had a cookout at Don's house and Paul prepared a message for us on Humility. Sweet time of fellowship! From there we made our way to Williamsburg, VA. There were LOTS of people gathered there to see the fireworks display. Many, many people heard the gospel.

Our group gathering for prayer and final instructions.

The couple in this picture holding the two little girls were fellow
siblings in Christ ~ they were so excited about the preaching and
very encouraging. The group of young adults standing on the front
left hand side (there were 5 of them) listened intently as Paul
presented the gospel. Katie and I were able to follow-up
with them at the end. May God do a great work in their hearts!

We started to make our way back to the cars as the fireworks started ~ ** ~ and ended the night at Sal's Italian Restaurant. Tony & I shared a greek salad and veggie stromboli. Mmmm. :)

We left Nathan & Mary's house at 6:30 Sunday morning and drove about 3 hours to our church. Through the expositing of Daniel 8, we were reminded of God's exhaustive foreknowledge and sovereignty over every detail of all of history. There is nothing in the past, present, or future that God does not know completely. "How wicked it is to trivialize such a majestic Being!" As a Christian, that is a very comforting truth ... everything we go through was designed specifically for us, by our Creator, for the most perfect moment. God loves his children very much and He is working everything together for their good. After church, Tony & I shared a $5 sub from subway and ran a couple errands. It is always a nice feeling to get ~home~ after time away. Our own little haven. ;)

...for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.
Isaiah 46:9


Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139:16